A positive to the Corona Virus?

No doubt you like me, are hearing from every available news source about the effect the Corona Virus is having throughout the world, and the United States. Fear about the virus and the effects on our lives, jobs, and the overall economy continues to grow.

Schools and Universities have all gone online. Sports are suspended. Parades, political rallies and events of all kinds have been canceled. It’s the fear of gathering in crowds, and how it could spread the virus. These are just a few of the many ways in which this is affecting our country.

Then we were simply all told to stay home for a while!

Might I suggest some positive in the midst of all this?

In our all too busy world, “being” has been replaced by “doing.” Families are so busy running children from one event to another, there is no time for mom and dad to connect with each other or their kids. The noise we are offered from TV and movies and video games and music and podcasts and smartphones and social media and more, hinders us all from sitting still and quietly with someone to converse about life, to listen, and even enjoy their presence. I am afraid for many, they would not even know how to do this anymore.

What if in the midst of the corona virus, we came to realize on a much deeper level that what matters most in life is people, relationships and the gift of life?

For those of us who live with others, “having to stay at home” might just mean that we would have the opportunity to connect more with our spouse or our kids or a roommate or friend.

For those who live alone, it may be a good opportunity to reach out to someone and acknowledge any needs you may have. That can be hard, but it is part of what makes us human – we need others.

And a final word to all of us who do not live alone – may we be stirred to look around us and seek to meet the needs of anyone we know who is alone. It is following what Jesus once said: “love your neighbor as yourself.”

So my simple advice:

1. Keep up with the toilet paper :), prescription drugs, and food.

2. Maybe get more to share with a neighbor or family member who is alone.

3. Then spend time enjoying and rebuilding those relationships that matter most to you!

4. And for those of you who pray, please do! Pray for wisdom for our leaders. Pray for a growing understanding to fall on our nation of what is truly important in life, and most important – to know God Himself.

–Mark Oelze